The seizure occurred when officers encountered a silver Toyota truck that was attempting to leave the United States for Mexico
More than 163 species of reptiles, spiders and centipedes were seized October 22 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations officers at the Anzalduas International Bridge in Texas.
The seizure occurred when officers encountered a driver in a silver Toyota truck who was attempting to leave the United States for Mexico and was selected for further inspection. Upon inspection, officers seized:
24) Royal Pythons
(15) Green Anoles
(11) Spotted Salamanders
(10) Sick Red Eye Tree Frogs
(10) Albino Milk Snakes
(10) Orange Milk Snakes
(10) Mexican Black King Snakes
(4) Monarch Ball Pythons
(4) Tarantulas
(3) Pacman Frogs (yellow)
(3) Coffee Pacman Frogs
(3) Chilean Rose Tarantulas
(3) Irian Jaya Blue Tongued Skinks
(3) Bearded Dragons
(3) Savannah Monitors
(3) Rankin Dragons
(3) Albino Aberrant Calif. King Snakes
(3) Albino Banded Calif. King Snakes
(3) Albino Striped Calif. King Snakes
(3) Albino/Amelanistic Corn Snakes
(3) Black Corn Snakes
(2) Ball Pythons
(2) Honduran Milk Snakes
(2) Ornate Monitor Lizards
(2) Chinese Caved Geckos
(2) Veiled Chameleons
(2) Centipedes
(2) Green Tree Pythons
(2) High White Calif. King Snakes
(1) Timor Python
(1) Carpet Python
(1) Garter Snake
(1) Banana Blade Clown
(1) Banana Spotnose
(1) Pinstripe Ball Python
(1) Fire Skink
(1) Indian Star Tortoise
(1) Ghost Aztec Jungle Boa
(1) Female Juvenile Axanthic Banana Ball Python
(1) Female Juvenile Axanthic Banana Lesser Ball Python
(1) Juvenile Axanthic Lesser Ball Python
(1) Juvenile Axanthic Ball Python
(1) Juvenile Ghost Piebald Ball Python
(1) Juvenile Piebald Ball Python
(1) Male Juvenile Axanthic Banana Enchi Ball Python
“The smuggling of exotic pets has been on the rise in our area, and we work closely with our partners of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect and preserve these creatures and ensure that importations and exportations of wildlife adhere to all applicable federal requirements,” Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry said in a statement released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
RAYphotographer/Shutterstock
The driver of the Toyota was arrested by Homeland Security Investigations special agents and the truck was seized. A criminal investigation was launched. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have taken custody of the seized animals.
According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the lawful importation or exportation of wildlife requires a completed declaration of exportation of fish or wildlife and must be carried out through a designated port. Clearance from the USFWS is also required.
A federally-accredited veterinarian needs to complete and sign an Interstate and International Certificate of Health Examination for Small Animals and that certificate must be endorsed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to the press release. Mexico has its own import requirements, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species restricts and prohibit certain endangered species.
